Hilda Wiseman, artist

1960

Hilda Wiseman (1894-1982) was born in Victoria, Australia, to New Zealand parents. The Wiseman family moved back to Auckland in 1904, and Hilda went on to study at Elam School of Art. She worked as a commercial artist, setting up on her own in 1931. From 1925 onwards, she designed over 100 bookplates, working predominately in linocuts. Wiseman printed the bookplates on her own press in her own studio: Selwyn Studio. Her style is bold and uncomplicated, and she clearly had a natural artistic talent. Wiseman also collected bookplates, and her collection of 1000 plates is now housed at the Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland City Library.